蘑菇AV

The debit card gave Affirm a boost in active users and strong numbers, but to continue this pace of growth, Affirm may need to get creative

Klarna will generate $33.38 billion in US buy now, pay later (BNPL) payment value by 2027, pulling ahead of Affirm in a period of massive growth for BNPL providers, per our forecast.

Live Nation expects 2025 to be another record year for concertgoing, as global tours from superstars like Oasis, Coldplay, and Beyonc茅 fuel attendance and ticket sales. While it may seem counterintuitive for concert demand to be so strong even as other areas of discretionary spending, like travel and restaurant meals, falter, it鈥檚 clear that a sizable number of consumers view entertainment as a necessary splurge in an era of uncertainty. That could help give the US hospitality industry a much-needed boost as it grapples with declining international demand.

The news: Klarna might push its IPO date up as late as September, per a report from Bloomberg. Our take: Whenever Klarna schedules its IPO, it can bank on the strength of its partnerships鈥攍ike DoorDash, Walmart, Stripe, and Walmart鈥攖o sustain its growth. Fintechs have faced a tough environment for IPOs ever since the high-water mark of 2021. Firms are now required to demonstrate better pathways to profitability before going public. However, despite tariffs and geopolitical disturbances, fintechs have the ability to outperform expectations: Take Circle鈥檚 blockbuster IPO back in June. With investors hungry for AI-focused companies, Klarna may be well positioned to ride the wave of its peers鈥� earlier success in the market.

The news: Revolving consumer credit growth has been negative for two months, per Federal Reserve Board data. Annualized revolving credit growth declined 3.5% in May and 1% in June. A year ago, annualized revolving credit growth stood at 6.15% in May and -0.92% in June. Our take: In the face of uncertainty, consumers are wary of spending unless they feel incentivized to change their behavior, especially as tariff-related pressures increase.

The news: Block鈥檚 gross profit rose to $2.54 billion, an increase of 14% YoY. Cash App鈥檚 gross profit grew 16% YoY Square鈥檚 gross profit increased 11% YoY Developments like Cash App Afterpay are gradually drawing the distinct Cash App and Square ecosystems into a robust dual-sided network. However, the Cash App鈥檚 enduring lack of a credit card makes it harder for Block to sell itself as the one-stop shop for young people鈥檚 financial needs.

BNPL providers approved 79% of applications in 2022 thanks to counteroffers for subprime borrowers

The global payments industry will be a $2.3 trillion revenue opportunity in 2028. But shifting business models, new technologies, and alternative payment methods are changing how key card players compete for a share of this revenue.

The news: US inflation ticked up 0.1% last month and 2.4% YoY, a softer read than many economists expected but one that kept the pressure on consumers already dealing with a higher cost of living. Our take: Retailers, especially grocers and discounters, can set themselves apart by helping consumers save money and be more financially responsible. Offering digital coupons, using in-store signage spotlighting sales on daily essentials, and rewarding loyal shoppers for repeat purchases can foster smarter spending.

Etsy and eBay see opportunity to gain share as tariffs burden their competitors and consumers adjust their spending habits. Both companies are well-positioned to benefit from renewed interest in resale as tariffs make buying new more expensive for shoppers. The two platforms also now face less competition from Shein, Temu, and Amazon in online ad auctions鈥攁llowing them to be more efficient with marketing spend and reach more potential customers. While neither eBay nor Etsy is fully immune from the effects of tariffs鈥攁nd their potential drag on the economy and consumer confidence鈥攖hey are less exposed than most other retailers.

The Latin American consumer banking market is vast, yet over 40% of consumers are currently underbanked. Foreign banks looking to enter the market can tap this audience, but they should learn from and partner with local fintechs to do so.

While BNPL losses remain low, consumers may be overextending themselves, making it harder for consumers to pay off their growing credit card balances

The results: Amazon鈥檚 first four-day Prime Day event helped push US ecommerce sales to $24.1 billion from July 8鈥�11鈥攁 30.3% YoY increase, according to Adobe Digital Insights. Our take: Prime Day has cemented its place as a mid-summer shopping tentpole鈥攁nd not just for Amazon. Other retailers, ranging from Dollar General to Walmart, leaned into the promotional window, turning July into a new retail battleground. Beyond sales, the event is a massive advertising opportunity. One of the under-the-radar reasons Amazon doubled the event鈥檚 length was to provide more ad inventory. Stretching Prime Day to four days gave brands more time to reach high-intent shoppers鈥攁nd Amazon more room to expand its already-massive high-margin retail media business.

The insight: Younger consumers are opting out of human interaction when they shop. Our take: While younger consumers tend to adopt new behaviors faster, they鈥檙e also driving the direction of retail innovation. Retailers looking to stay competitive should prioritize the tech-driven, convenience-first features these shoppers now see as table stakes.

Grocery delivery intermediaries like DoorDash and Uber are gaining ground, offering new ways to reach high-intent shoppers. Meanwhile, retailers like Walmart and Amazon continue to lead with strong delivery infrastructure and valuable customer data.

The reality: Tariff-driven grocery price hikes have been relatively modest so far this year. Food and beverage prices rose 2.9% YoY through mid-May, up from 1.7% a year earlier, per Circana. While tariffs haven鈥檛 caused a major inflation spike, supply-side shocks鈥攍ike drought, avian flu, and extreme weather鈥攈ave pushed up prices on staples such as coffee, eggs, and chocolate. Our take: Tariffs haven鈥檛 led to major price hikes yet, but that鈥檚 likely to change soon as duties push up costs on goods like seafood, alcohol, and produce. And even before those increases take effect, shoppers are becoming more cautious, more price-sensitive, and quicker to trade down or skip nonessentials altogether.

The tie-up will bring the BNPL provider to a bevy of merchants鈥� checkout pages鈥攚hether they like it or not

The news: BMO launched the BMO Escape Credit Card, a Mastercard credit card geared for travelers, per a press release. The Escape Credit Card will pack a $150 annual fee. New signees are eligible to earn up to 45,000 points after spending $5,000 within the first three months of their account opening.

Payment processing solutions from major US digital commerce platforms are maturing and capturing a greater share of their retail ecommerce sales. Here鈥檚 how five platforms are approaching the payment facilitator (payfac) model to catapult their growth.